Pebble Time Steel hits Kickstarter today for $250, starts shipping in July

Just a week ago, Pebble Time launched on Kickstarter and became the fastest growing crowd-funding project in history. Raising well over their $500,000 goal, massive interest has already been shown in the next-generation device from Pebble. Today at Mobile World Congress, Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky unveiled a second version of the device, the $299 Pebble Time Steel.

Pebble Time Steel will be available starting in July in black, silver, and gold finishes. While it will retail for $299, early birds can pre-order through Kickstarter for $250. Anyone who has already backed Pebble Time will be able to change their pledge to the Pebble Time Steel without a hitch.

Just like Pebble Time, the Steel version will feature an all-new design along with a new version of Pebble OS. The refined Pebble Time Steel is just 1mm thicker than Pebble Time and is "made from premium materials, and designed for busy professionals who need to accomplish more during their day."

The color e-paper display will feature the new timeline interface, as well as a built-in microphone for voice commands. The battery is also rated at up to 10 days — even more than that of Pebble Time. Both a leather and stainless steel band will be included as well, and the Pebble Time Steel will support smartstraps, which allow developers to add sensors directly into bands for things like GPS and heart-rate tracking.

Pebble Time Steel hits Kickstarter today, so head over to the Pebble Time page for more info or to get your piece of the action.

Pebble Announces Pebble Time Steel at Mobile World Congress

Beautiful New Design, Revolutionary 10-Day Battery Life andan Open Platform for Smartstraps

Barcelona, Spain (March 3, 2015) — On stage at Mobile World Congress, Eric Migicovsky, Pebble CEO, today unveiled Pebble Time Steel, a beautifully-designed watch for iPhone and Android, with a ground-breaking battery life of up to 10 days. The announcement comes on the heels of Pebble Time, which launched on Kickstarter on February 24, 2015, and quickly became the fastest growing crowd-funding project in history. All Kickstarter backers have the opportunity to easily upgrade to the new Pebble Time Steel, while maintaining their spot in line.

Premium Materials and Incredible Battery Life

Launched last summer, the original Pebble Steel brought sophistication and design to smartwatches. Pebble Time Steel follows in these footsteps, combining beautiful, premium design with the powerful new technology of Pebble Time. Similar to Pebble Time, Pebble Time Steel runs the new timeline interface, has a color e-paper display, built-in microphone for quick voice replies and notes, and is water resistant. Where Pebble Time has a sporty look and feel, Pebble Time Steel is refined, made from premium materials, and designed for busy professionals who need to accomplish more during their day. Pebble Time Steel comes in three styles: silver, black, and gold finish.

Everything from the ergonomic, curved watch case, to the bezel and machined buttons is made from stainless steel. The watch is the same dimensions at the Pebble Time, just 1mm thicker; the lens is crafted from scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass; it includes both a fine leather band and a stainless steel strap; and, most notably, has an increased battery life of up to 10 days — longer than any smartwatch on the market.

"We want users to be able to choose the watch they want for any situation," said Migicovsky. "That's why we're so excited to introduce Pebble Time Steel today. It unites modern technology and world-class design — everything that is great about Pebble Time and Pebble Steel in one beautiful watch."

Creating an Open Platform With Smartstraps

Have you ever wanted to go for a run without your phone and still be able to track your speed and stats on Pebble? Want a Pebble watch with a battery life of more than four weeks? Today, we're introducing an open hardware accessory platform for Pebble Time that will open a future for these and more.

Both Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel include a quick release band mechanism and a smart accessory port on the back of the watch that enable hardware developers to build electronics and sensors that interface directly with apps running on Pebble Time. Straps can be changed in a matter of seconds, so you can utilize different sensors if you're at the gym or at the office. With an open platform for smartstraps, Pebble is bringing ultimate customization to your wrist.

"In order to add a heart rate monitor or GPS directly into a smartwatch, you have to make serious compromises on design and battery life. And it's likely that if you buy a watch with a certain sensor today, it will be out of date within 12 months," said Migicovsky. "We are creating an open platform that will enable anyone to build smartstraps for Pebble watches. For example, imagine a smartstrap with a GPS chip or a heart rate monitor, that transforms Pebble Time into a high-performance fitness watch; or a strap with a pollution sensor inside, that keeps track of the environment around you; or a strap with an extra battery that extends the battery life of Pebble Time past 7 days. We can't wait to see what people develop; the opportunities are endless."

Pebble has partnered and is working closely with accessory makers and designers on smartstraps. Initial shipments of smartstraps will begin later in the year, and full details can be found on our developer blog (http://developer.getpebble.com/blog). Hardware hackers and interested accessory partners can contact partnership@getpebble.com.

Overwhelming Support from the Pebble Community

Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel would not exist without the herculean support and feedback from Pebblers around the world. "We continue to be humbled and grateful for the incredible support of the Pebble community," said Migicovsky. "Our goal is to continue making our supporters happy with amazing smartwatches that simplify your daily life and help you accomplish more."

Pebble Time Steel starts shipping in July and includes two straps (leather and stainless steel) for just $250, which is exclusive to Kickstarter. The regular retail price will be $299. Anyone can back Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel on Kickstarter until Friday, March 27, 2015, and all existing Kickstarter backers have the opportunity to upgrade to the new Pebble Time Steel, while maintaining their spot in line.